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I dedicate this chapter to BlueDragon4777 for being such a good friend of mine and also being the first person to vote and comment on this story! ❤️

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"You said you wanted to join the Fairy Tail guild right? Well then, let's go!"

Just like Lucy ran that day, she ran yet again, but this time, not towards Fairy Tail.

"You took something precious from me right in front of my eyes. I'm going to burn your fate into a pile of ashes!"

The tears clouded her vision and that feeling of something twisting painfully inside suffocated her, making her feel like she was going to collapse any second.

"I'll never let anyone take away Lucy's future from her!"

But she had to keep going no matter what. If she didn't, she'd break down, trapped inside that never-ending dark void of horror.

"She is the one that completes us! Our best friend!"

The little twigs and low branches scratched her, but she did not stop. She continued down deeper into the woods, her panic never letting her rest for a second.

"Lucy!"

She can never be that person anymore. No matter how much she wants it.

"Please No!"

The memory of that day flashed in front of her eyes, making her momentarily lose herself. She tripped over a tree root, falling down on the forest floor with a thud. Despite the stinging pain coursing through her scraped knees and hands, she stayed down, having no strength to keep going.

She was exhausted, mentally and physically.

"Lucy." Loke's voice resonated in her ears. "We're here. It's okay."

The streaming tears turned to light sobs and before long Lucy was shaking and crying on the forest floor, completely breaking down.

She was sick and tired of her life. Exhausted from living like this. Exhausted from not being able to go back home.

Exhausted from everything.

The forest echoed with her wails and screams, while she let out her frustration. The memory of that fateful day played over and over in her head, and she pleaded for it to stop.

For it all to stop.

Over time, her crying stopped, and all that was left was her worn out body lying amongst the leaves and pebbles. Lucy traced her fingers over her right hand, right where her guild mark lay beneath the bandages. Once a mark of belongingness and family, it now only spelled isolation and loneliness for her.

"I wonder how long I'd last like this.." she asked to no one in particular, digging her fingers into her palms.

"But.." she attempted to get up, despite her hands still shaking. "I have to get going now. Today is not the day to give up."

She wandered off to a nearby stream and splashed cool water on her flushed face, momentarily enjoying the freshening feeling it provided her with. She smiled sadly at her rippling reflection in the waters, making sure that nobody knew she had been crying.

And then she made her way back to them.

•••

Inhaling deeply, Lucy proceeded to enter the café with a determined expression on her face, with a promise to not cry again. However, there was such commotion inside that her determination turned to curiosity and she took wary steps inside.

She was immediately met with the lot of Fairy Tail, Gray and Natsu bickering as usual, Wendy trying to stop them from causing anymore damage while Erza talked to Mari. Happy sat munching on a fish with Carla, having no care in the world while the latter looked about disapprovingly.

'They haven't changed at all..' Lucy thought, a genuine smile finding it's way to her face.

Realising that none of the others had noticed her presence yet, she instead focused on their conversations, picking up tits and bits from here and there.

"I'm telling ya popsicle!" Natsu growled. "It's true!"

"Ah come on pyro! Give me a break!"

"I know that something special is today! I just can't remember what!"

"You always say that! Then again it's no surprise since you're not the brightest."

"You wanna go ice boy?"

"Ever ready ya flame brain!"

"Natsu-san... Gray-san... Please... Don't fight. We've already wrecked this place enough." Wendy mumbled helplessly, trying to stop the two mages from going any further.

"..sorry about the wreaking."

"Oh its fine.!" Mari smiled. "You saved one of our staffs from being harassed. I couldn't thank you enough Erza."

"It's our pleasure." The scarlet mage smiled. "If you don't mind me asking..who was.."

"Oh!" Mari beamed, even more cheerful than before. "Her name is Lucy. She is one of our staffs here too."

"Oh?"

"Usually..she is the one to take care of such situations..but she wasn't here today."

"Why'd she run away then?" Happy questioned. Natsu stopped mid fight, awaiting an answer. Even Gray stopped to focus more on the conversation.

"I don't know...maybe because-"

"I was kinda pissed that you guys stole my time to shine."

All of them turned to face her standing at the doorway, a playful smile on her lips. "I am usually the one to take care of people like that!" she joked.

"Lucy!" Mari exclaimed, surprised at her sudden entrance.

"Though I apologise for running off like that.. I'm just not used to being around people that much. I guess I sorta just..panicked.."

The mages from her former guild stared at her, transfixed.

"Lucy.." Erza mumbled.

"Eh.. I see Mari has already introduced me.. Hi! I'm Lucy. A waitress here. Nice to meet you all!"

"Likewise." Erza smiled. "I'm Erza Scarlet."

Thump

"My name is Wendy." she bowed. "Nice to meet you too Lucy-San! This is Carla and Happy!"

Thump

"Gray Fullbuster. And this pyro here-" he said, gesturing towards him. "-is Natsu."

Thump

"And we're all wizards from the Fairy Tail guild!"

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Okieeeee. Welp here chu go! Another chapter! How'd you like it? It's gonna get real interesting from the next chapter on!

Ps:Thank you so much for 100 reads already! I cannot thank you enough ❤️❤️❤️

Natsu wtf?😂

He is so demanding jeez😂 and Lucy is so shy 😂

Atleast Gale is married😂❤

Freaking Elfman and Laxus😂 Gray's reaction is priceless tho

What'd you see Lucy😏 any ideas in your head now😏

Idk what I'm supposed to think if Gray's though rn..does this mean Gruvia is on its way to becoming a Canon?💓💓

And you troll MASHIMA give me a real nalu Canon not this NaLu Canon ughhj it's so frustrating!!!

Anyways..if you liked the story,then please vote,comment and share!

Until then!
Belle🌸
🔥❤🔑